Supreme Court raps Centre, states over flood situation, says laws are being violated

PTC News Desk: As several parts of Northern region are battling one of the worst floods, the Supreme Court on Thursday came down heavily on authorities over mishandling the situation and violation of laws. The top court has issued notices to the Centre and four states. 

The Chief Justice pointed out, "Entire fields and villages in Punjab seem to have been wiped out by floods" and stressed, "Development and environmental protection need to be balanced."

Taking suo motu cognisance of widespread flooding and illegal deforestation in the hill states, a bench comprising Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran underlined the need to strike a balance between development and environmental protection. Citing media reports of large quantities of wooden logs floating in Himachal’s rivers, the court directed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to seek instructions on the matter and asked the government to respond within three weeks. Notices were issued to several north Indian states, all currently grappling with a grave crisis brought on by an unusually intense and prolonged monsoon that has triggered floods, landslides, and incessant rainfall.

Himachal Pradesh has been the hardest hit, enduring a catastrophic combination of floods and landslides. August recorded the highest rainfall since 1949, setting off repeated landslides and land subsidence that destroyed homes, wiped out infrastructure, and killed more than 340 people, with many still missing.

Uttarakhand too is struggling under relentless rain, which has unleashed flash floods and landslides. Major rivers such as the Ganga, Alaknanda, and Mandakini are flowing at or above danger levels. So far, over 80 lives have been lost, while several others remain untraced.

In Jammu and Kashmir, successive cloudbursts in the Jammu region have triggered flash floods and landslides, particularly in Ramban and Reasi districts. The calamity has resulted in significant casualties and frequent closure of key routes, leaving thousands of vehicles stranded. The Vaishno Devi pilgrimage has also been suspended multiple times due to landslide risks.

Punjab is facing its worst floods in nearly forty years, officially declared a state disaster. Torrential rains, coupled with the release of water from upstream dams, have inundated over 1,400 villages and affected more than 3.5 lakh people. The state’s agricultural economy has taken a severe hit, with nearly 3.7 lakh acres of farmland submerged and crops extensively damaged.

Delhi, meanwhile, is battling urban flooding and severe waterlogging. The Yamuna has risen above the danger mark following continuous discharge from the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana, submerging low-lying areas, displacing thousands of residents, and forcing the closure of vital infrastructure.